When Prophetic Expectation Is Dashed: Red Heifers Ruled Invalid
This week, many believers watched with a mixture of disappointment and reflection as the Temple Institute in Jerusalem declared that the five red heifers brought to Israel roughly three years ago are no longer considered viable candidates for the biblically significant sacrifice needed to purify the future Third Temple. For those who had followed the journey of these rare animals from Texas to the Holy Land, this announcement came as a jarring reminder: God’s plans are never late–but they also rarely align with our timelines.
The red heifer, described in Numbers 19, plays a critical role in the purification rites necessary before temple service can be reinstated. Its ashes, combined with water, are to be used for the ceremonial cleansing of those defiled by contact with the dead. Without a perfect red heifer–one without blemish, never yoked, and meeting other strict criteria–the rebuilding of the Temple cannot be fully actualized according to traditional Jewish law. So when these five candidates arrived in Israel in 2022, prophetic excitement surged. Could this be the final step before the long-awaited construction of the Third Temple?
But once again, God has reminded His people: the pace of prophecy is not ours to dictate.
Interpreting Delay: A Lesson in Trust
For prophecy watchers, the heifer setback may sting, but it is by no means the end of the road. In fact, moments like this are essential spiritual checkpoints. They challenge us to reaffirm our trust not in outcomes or symbols, but in the One who holds time in His hands.
We have seen this before. During the Gulf War, prophetic fervor swept through churches across America. Sermons and Bible studies were hastily arranged to explain Saddam Hussein’s role in biblical prophecy. Could this be the rise of the Antichrist? Was Babylon being rebuilt before our eyes? For all the questions, speculation, and energy poured into that moment, the fulfillment didn’t arrive as many hoped–or expected. And yet, that season stirred many to repentance, prayer, and greater biblical literacy. God used it for good.
Similarly, many recently observed the brief but intense conflict between Israel and Iran, wondering aloud: Could this be the war of Gog and Magog described in Ezekiel 38-39? The alignment seemed close–but not quite. Russia, a key figure in that prophecy, remained a missing piece. For all the intensity, it didn’t quite fit. And still, it has deepened our understanding of how closely today’s headlines echo tomorrow’s prophecies.
Setbacks Are Still Steps Forward
Though the red heifers are no longer considered eligible, it would be a mistake to see this as a prophetic retreat. The broader picture shows the opposite. Jews singing and praying openly on the Temple Mount–a practice once completely suppressed–is no small thing. Temple preparation is ongoing. Priestly garments have been crafted. Utensils have been made. Even the training of Levites has begun. The cultural shift within Israel toward religious expectation is real and accelerating.
We are not going backward. We are simply being asked to wait–and watch–with humility.
Jesus warned that the last days would be marked by wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in various places, lawlessness, and rising hatred. These signs are not meant to cause despair, but awareness. And today, we see all of them playing out globally. Antisemitism is on the rise. Moral confusion clouds the culture. Technology has advanced to the point that the Mark of the Beast, once a mysterious concept, is now not only plausible–it’s culturally acceptable. Cashless societies, biometric ID systems, and global digital currencies are discussed openly in international economic forums.
Yet in all this, God is not delayed. He is patient.
As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Each delay is mercy. Every “no” is a preparation for a greater “yes.” Even now, the setbacks are sowing seeds of awakening, both in Israel and around the world.
Holding Faith in a Shaking World
Disappointment is dangerous when we let it cloud our confidence in God. But for the believer anchored in Scripture, these moments are clarifying. They strip away emotional hype and leave us with the raw, steady truth of God’s Word.
Yes, we are called to watch the signs. But more importantly, we are called to wait well.
The story of Joseph comes to mind–falsely accused, imprisoned, and forgotten. Yet in God’s perfect time, he rose to fulfill his destiny. Or consider Moses, delayed in the wilderness for 40 years. Or David, anointed king but running from Saul. Or even Jesus, arriving in history not as a warrior to overthrow Rome, but as a suffering servant to conquer sin.
God’s plans are always better than ours, even when the path includes delay.
Signs of the Times
Abortion Clinic Pushes Puberty Blockers And Abortion With American Girl Dolls
“Every girl deserves to love herself.” That’s the opening ethos of American Girl’s body image guidebook for girls. But a darker message seems to be emerging–one that undermines childhood innocence and parental authority in favor of radical ideology. And now, that message has taken a deeply disturbing turn.
A New Hampshire abortion clinic recently posted a meme online that left many Americans–especially parents–outraged. The clinic, using mock versions of American Girl dolls, created images of these childlike figures holding abortion pills, hormone blockers, birth control, and waving transgender pride flags. Each image was captioned to reflect what the doll “was on” or “was doing”: “This American Girl Doll is having a medication abortion,” “This American Girl Doll is on HRT,” “This American Girl Doll uses birth control,” and more.
What makes this so grotesque is not merely the political edge or even the offensive attempt at dark humor–it’s the fact that these dolls, known and loved by generations of girls, are meant to represent children. These aren’t caricatures of adult women making adult choices. These are childlike figures being used to promote the destruction of unborn life and irreversible medical treatments for gender dysphoria.
Some defenders of the post have insisted it wasn’t meant to target children. But that’s irrelevant. The symbolism is clear. Using dolls that represent innocent young girls to advertise abortion and gender therapy is not edgy–it’s evil. Even if the creators of the meme believed they were being clever, their choice of imagery betrays a far more sinister truth: the push to normalize these ideas for younger and younger audiences is not slowing down. It’s accelerating.
And here’s where it gets worse.
While the dolls in the meme were not officially licensed American Girl dolls, the silence from American Girl and their parent company, Mattel, is deafening. You might expect them to issue a swift statement distancing themselves from the grotesque misuse of their brand. But there’s been nothing.
Why? Perhaps because they’re not all that opposed to the ideology being pushed.
Consider this: American Girl is still selling a book titled A Smart Girl’s Guide: Body Image, aimed at girls as young as ten. The book has rightly come under fire for suggesting puberty blockers as a solution for girls who are uncomfortable in their own bodies. It implies that if a young girl doesn’t “feel right,” she can consider gender transition–and even points her toward resources to do so without parental support.
This isn’t just troubling–it’s a betrayal of childhood.
Rather than encouraging girls to grow into the beauty of womanhood, to navigate the storms of puberty with grace and support, this book offers them an escape hatch. But it’s an escape that leads straight into lifelong dependency on medical interventions, infertility, and irreversible harm. Puberty blockers, far from being harmless “pauses,” carry the risk of serious side effects: cognitive impairment, bone damage, mood disorders, and permanent sterility.
As if body image wasn’t already a battlefield for young girls bombarded by social media, now they’re told that if they feel uncomfortable in their skin, maybe they were born in the wrong one altogether. Rather than equipping them with truth and resilience, we’re feeding them confusion and irreversible options.
And it’s not just happening in fringe clinics or on activist social media pages. It’s happening in the heart of America’s toy aisle.
This culture is waging war on childhood innocence. It is twisting what once stood for imagination and self-discovery–like American Girl dolls–into tools of propaganda and confusion. And worse, it’s selling it to our daughters in shiny, pastel-colored books under the guise of empowerment.
We must draw the line.
Parents, grandparents, pastors, and concerned citizens must speak out–not just against the grotesque misuse of these dolls, but against the worldview that seeks to distort and destroy girlhood altogether. There is nothing progressive about celebrating the medication of confused children, the sterilization of pre-teens, or the casual destruction of life in the womb.
What we’re seeing is a spiritual crisis cloaked in progressive packaging. And it demands more than outrage. It demands action.
Don’t just tweet your disapproval. Boycott companies that push this agenda. Write letters. Support organizations that speak truth in love. Protect your daughters and sons from the cultural lies that say their bodies are problems to be fixed instead of gifts to be cherished.
Our daughters are not pawns in a social experiment. They are fearfully and wonderfully made.
And that’s a truth no doll, no meme, and no misguided book can ever take away.
Gog and Magog Update
Israel’s Final Push In Gaza: Global Backlash Will Be Fierce
As the world’s attention wavers and many political leaders shift focus, Israel stands on the brink of a new and decisive military campaign in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged not just another strike, but a complete retaking of Gaza, the dismantling of Hamas, the liberation of remaining hostages, and eventually — the transfer of power to a yet-to-be-named Arab governing force. It is a bold and necessary move. But it will come at a high price — not just militarily, but diplomatically, culturally, and spiritually.
This new offensive, expected to launch imminently, is likely to be the most intense and controversial phase of the conflict since October 7th. And the world is not on Israel’s side.
A Just and Difficult Mission
Let’s begin with the obvious: no nation on earth would tolerate what Israel has endured. Over 1,200 civilians slaughtered in a single day, hostages still held in tunnels beneath Gaza, and thousands of rockets continuing to target Israeli communities. Any government with a shred of responsibility would act with strength and finality.
Netanyahu’s strategy — to oust Hamas completely — is not revenge. It is security. It is a moral obligation to the Jewish people, and to every nation that values life over terrorism. His goal to install an Arab governing force post-conflict offers an intriguing vision of regional collaboration, perhaps paving the way for a more stable, cooperative Middle East.
But between here and there lies a minefield — not just in Gaza’s shattered neighborhoods, but in the court of global opinion.
The World’s Double Standard
Despite the horror of Hamas’ October 7th massacre, much of the global community has already turned against Israel. Western media outlets have reverted to their long-standing bias: amplifying Palestinian suffering while downplaying — or outright ignoring — the root cause of the war — Hamas’ terrorism, human shields, and decades of bloodshed.
This isn’t just media malpractice — it’s a spiritual battle over truth.
When Israel defends itself, it is branded an oppressor. When Hamas uses hospitals, schools, and mosques to store weapons or hide hostages, it’s called “resistance.” The result? International sympathy for terrorists and condemnation for the victims.
In September, several nations plan to push for formal recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations — not after Hamas is destroyed, but while it still exists. This would reward terrorism and ignore the realities on the ground. Yet it is likely to gain traction as Israel pushes forward with its military goals.
Protests, Pressure, and the Propaganda War
As students return to campus in the coming weeks, expect the noise to grow louder. University protests — often driven by ignorance and emboldened by Marxist ideologies — will rage against Israel with renewed force. What we saw in Sydney this week is just a preview. That protest, filled with anti-Israel rhetoric and devoid of any condemnation of Hamas, happened in Australia — one of Israel’s traditional allies. If even democratic partners are turning cold, Israel’s international isolation will deepen.
The long-term implications are severe: economic pressure, diplomatic sanctions, and possibly legal action from international courts. Israel may be winning battles on the ground but losing hearts and minds across the globe.
Who Will Govern Gaza Next?
Even if Israel succeeds militarily, a critical question remains: who will govern Gaza once Hamas is gone?
Netanyahu’s vision of an “Arab force” is vague but not unprecedented. Egypt, Jordan, or a coalition of Gulf states might be candidates, possibly under the banner of a regional peace framework. But trust is fragile. Would these nations accept such a role? Would Gazans accept them? Would Iran and Qatar sabotage the process?
And would the West support such a transfer of power — or undermine it in the name of “Palestinian self-determination”?
The best-case scenario is this: a neutral Arab coalition helps stabilize Gaza, opens the door to humanitarian rebuilding, and lays groundwork for broader peace — including eventual normalization with Saudi Arabia. But that’s a narrow path, and the world will not make it easy.